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GIFT  OF 
Class   of   1887 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN 
IN  BOHEMIA 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN 
IN  BOHEMIA 


BY 
KATE   B.  PALMER 


— £^fc*WP  &£*•¥--£  R I  N  T  E  D 
SAN   FRANCISCO 
1913 


ci. 


Copyright,  191 
by  A.  M.  ROBERTSON 


PHILOPOLIS  PRESS 
SAN  FR»NCISCO 


840648 


FOREST  SCENE.     SCENE  I. 

Curtain  disclosing  forest  in  purple  twilight. 
Introducing  music, — UG  motif. 

Enter  FOREST  VOICE: — 

Robed  in  green  gauzy  drapes  veiled  by  wood- 
colored  chiffon  variegated,  a  light  green 
chiffon  drape  falling  from  head  over  shoulders, 
held  on  head  by  wreath  of  redwood  sprays; 
hair  flowing,  white  sandalled  feet,  an  owl  in 
her  left  hand.  Throughout  the  short  play  she 
does  the  reciting  which  introduces  the  acts. 

FOREST  VOICE. 
The  great  trees  listen  for  the  song 

Of  wondrous  themes, 
When  stars  and  twilight  weave  repose 

And  Nature  dreams; 
No  chirp  of  bird  among  their  boughs 

Cathedral  spires; 

Descending  rose-shafts  wreathe  the  hour 
When  day  expires. 

FOREST  VOICE  remains  on  stage  through  the 

play. 
Music  in  variations  of  UG,  suited  to  forest. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

FOREST  VOICE. 

Oft  comes  the  sensuous  wooing  of  a  wind 
Athrill  the  forest  wakens  to  its  kiss, 

Impassioned,  strains  its  branches  to  embrace 
The  wanton  leaves  it  in  expectant  bliss. 
Wind  music, — UG  motif. 


FOREST  VOICE. 

Sweet  as  the  summer  fragrance  of  a  rose, 

Young  Night  descends,  her  dark  form  lightly  clad, 
A  jewelled  crescent  on  her  peerless  brow 
A  senseful  languor  in  her  movements  glad. 

Music  of  UG,  one  bar,  then  music  introducing 

NIGHT,  who  dances  the  dance  of  Night. 
NIGHT  is  garbed  in  short  Hack  skirt,  very  full 
above    ankles,   of  accordion-pleated   chiffon, 
draped  with  jewelled  black  veil,  a  crescent  on 
her  forehead,  a  single  star  on  back  of  each 
wrist  to  which  another  veil  is  attached,  black 
sandals. 
After  her  dance,  she  retires  to  back  of  stage, 

taking  a  graceful,  easy  position. 
Soft    music    accompanying    FOREST    VOICE 
through  each  of  her  stanzas. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

FOREST  VOICE. 

Forgot  the  moan  and  passion  of  the  wind, 

E'en  as  the  pain  that  living  things  must  know, 
Full  starved  for  sleep,  the  wood-clan  yield  their  all 
Of  dew-pressed  fragrance,  'neath  her  feet  of  snow. 
Violin  introducing  NIGHTINGALE.     Nightin- 
gale dance. 

Dancer  in  soft  shades  of  violet  chiffon,  draped 
on  arms  to  suggest  wings.  NIGHTINGALE 
goes  back,  making  a  picture  with  NIGHT. 

END  OF  FIRST  PART. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

PART  II.     SCENE  II. 

Musical  Introduction. 
Few  bars. 

FOREST  VOICE. 
The  spires  in  moonlit  glory  upwards  point, 

Eternal  Vigilants  thro'  centuries  past; 
Each  day  they  wait  the  coming  of  their  queen, 

Then  yield  her  sadly  at  King  Phoebus'  blast. 

Oft  a  sweet  vision,  reared  among  the  gods 

Comes  woman-like,  in  spite  of  warnings  given, 
Longing  to  know  the  mysteries  of  earth, 

Material  things  that  had  no  source  in  Heaven. 
Enter  SPIRIT  or  WOMAN.     Singing  in  com- 
manding, masterful  style. 

SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN. 
Thou  Ug,  graven  image  of  fear, 

Back,  back  to  the  Shades,  disappear! 
Thou  Bacchus,  with  hoofed,  shaggy  crew, 

Go  forth  through  the  trees,  starred  with  dew! 
Silenus,  with  spice  of  thy  drink 

Woo  dryads  to  Lethean  brink; 
Ho,  Zephyr,  lead  on  as  they  trip, 
In  cool,  pearly  fountains  to  sip! 

She  has  cleared  the  forest  of  its  male  occupants. 
Interlude  of  a  measure,  then  in  softer  mood 
continues: 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

Alone  in  the  forest  am  I 

Above  me  the  hooting  owls  cry; 
I  came  on  the  edge  of  a  cloud, 

The  gods  in  deep  sorrow  were  bowed; 
They  swore  that  Bohemia  must  weep, 

If  I,  in  this  forest,  should  sleep. 

Two  bars  of  music.  Style  changing  to  more 

reckless  mood. 
Brave  Spirit  of  Woman, — I  laugh 

At  their  fears  and  their  oaths, — foolish  chaff! 
Mayhap  in  this  grove,  old  forsooth, 

Mother  Eve  strayed  with  Adam  in  youth : 
In  reckless  defiance  of  law 

I  stand  in  this  temple — no  awe 
Of  man  or  his  high-priests  I  feel, 

But  soft  to  their  senses  would  steal 
And  woo  them  to  welcome  my  mood 

As  comrade  in  this  sheltered  wood. 
This  mankind,  who  fear,  yet  do  love, 

And  claim  this  Olympian  grove 
Have  left  their  grey  fire-embers  low; 

I'll  stir  them  to  cardinal  glow; — (Stirs  fire) 
And  to  yon  banked  verdure  will  creep 

In  soft,  perfumed  silence,  to  sleep, 
Revealing  in  dreams  woman's  right, 

To  spellbound  Bohemia  to-night. 

Curtain  as  she  reclines  on  bank.    Soft  music. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

SCENE  III. 

FOREST  VOICE. 

Fair,  quiet  spirits  dwelt  within  these  woods, 

Their  cloud- veil  lifted  and  they  soared  above, 
Their  memories  in  the  Forest  Wind  is  borne, 
These  sleepers  of  the  early  forest  love. 

Enter  WIND  OF  THE  FOREST,  or  FOREST  WIND. 
Interlude  of  Storm  music. 
Sings  "Song  oj  Sleepers"  written  for  her  by 
John  Vance  Cheney. 

FOREST  VOICE. 

When  storms  rage  wild  and  shattered  monarch  falls, 
And  thick-robed  branches  hide  Heaven's  angry  eye, 
With  heart-beats  hushed  and  timid  falt'ring  step, 
We  mourn  the  wrath  that  chastened, — My  Heart 
and  I. 

FOREST  WIND  sings  "My  Heart  and  I"  written 
also  by  John  Vance  Cheney,  Costume, 
old  rose  chiffon,  lighter  shade  of  veil,  sandals, 
hair  flowing,  old  rose  veil  caught  on  head, 
floating  to  hem  of  gown,  golden  lyre.  Music 
accompaniment  to  FOREST  VOICE,  more 
stirring. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

SCENE  IV. 

FOREST  VOICE. 

Oft  cometh  strange  wild  creatures  to  our  shades, 

They  fill  the  sylvan  calm  with  ribald  sound, 
They  chant  till  blush  the  virgin  sward  to  hear, 
And  in  mad  revel  toss  their  limbs  around. 

Music  changes  to  lively  as  women  from  all  parts 

of  world  enter. 
Bars  of  Russian  Bride  dance. 

RUSSIA,  in  gorgeous  costume  dances — goes  to  rear. 
SPAIN  enters  in  Spanish  costume  with  guitar  and  sings 

Spanish  song;  goes  to  rear. 
AFRICAN,  in  gorgeous  cake-walk  gown  enters  and  sings 

coon  song;  goes  to  rear. 
SCOTLAND  enters  in  full  Scotch  costume,  sings;  goes  to 

rear. 
SUFFRAGETTE  enters,  man's  silk  hat,  tuxedo  evening 

shirt   and   black    cloth   skirt,    carrying   a   banner, 

"Votes  for  Woman",  does  a  turn  on  stage;  goes  to 

rear. 
AMERICA  in  costume  of  red,  white  and  blue  spangled 

chiffon  enters  and  does  two  measures  of  Yankee 

Doodle  dance. 
INDIAN  maid  in  Indian  costume  with  bow  and  arrow 

does  Indian  dance  then  goes  to  wings  and  brings  in 

EGYPT. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

EGYPT  in  heavy  beaded  net  gown  all  bejewelled  and 
crowned  does  a  Veil  dance. 

They  form  a  tableau  in  rear  of  stage,  where 
SPIRIT  or  WOMAN  lies  asleep  on  bank. 
Enter  MODERN  WOMAN,  dragging  by  hand  a 
FOREST  YOUTH,  apparently  shy,  but  very 
handsome.  Woman  gowned  like  Nell  Brinck- 
ley,  muchly  bejewelled,  blonde  head,  mass  of 
curls  and  ptiffs.  Gown  of  white  chiffon,  em- 
broidered in  light  blue,  very  decollete,  one  red 
rose  at  corsage,  very  high-heeled  red  slippers, 
slit  skirt,  revealing  diamond  anklet  over 
slipper.  Youth  in  Robin  Hood  style  of 
garment. 

MODERN  WOMAN  sings  in  very  frightened,  ap- 
pealing manner,  still  holding  youth  by  hand: 

MODERN  WOMAN. 

When  the  woodland  sleeps  and  the  star-bells  ring, 

Thou  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me ! 
For  the  moonbeams  lure  till  the  pulses  sing, 

O  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me ! 
The  dove  of  peace  in  my  woman  soul 

Is  fretting  to  find  a  newer  goal, 
We  seek  for  change  as  the  seasons  roll, 

O  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me! 

I  found  this  Youth  in  the  glade  alone, 
O  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me ! 

10 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

And  his  tender  heart-sigh  stirred  my  own, 

Thou  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me! 
He  is  that  creature  called  a  man 

Whom  at  a  distance  we  should  scan, 
On  close  acquaintance  there's  a  ban — 
O  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me. 

YOUTH,  seeing  so  many  women,  makes  love  to 
each,  but  is  particularly  attentive  to  charming 
AMERICA.  Seeing  this  MODERN  WOMAN 
sings  next  verse: 

MODERN  WOMAN. 
Ye  Gods,  now  the  mischief  has  begun, 

O  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me ! 
That  heart-sigh  stunt  he  is  winning  on, 

Thou  Ug,  keep  a  watch  over  me ! 
What  madness  now  dares  the  creature  do? 

He  is  going  the  round  of  the  woman  world  thro' 
And  it's  Ug,  Ug,  Ug,  you're  a  "Bunny"  too, 
But  you  needn't  keep  watch  over  me. 

Stately  song  leads  up  to  syncopated  time  in 
Chorus,  which  MODERN  WOMAN  sings  first 
time  alone,  and  second  with  entire  cast. 

MODERN  WOMAN  (and  Chorus) 
For  the  rag  goes  on  till  the  stars  grow  cold, 

And  they'll  "Texas  Tom"  till  the  world  grows  old, 
And  tango — tango,  oh,  the  joy  of  it! 

Syncopatic,  non-aesthetic,  just  you  toy  with  it. 

ii 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

Heaven-wise,  roll  your  eyes, 

Sway  and  swing,  mesmerize: 
Redwood  trees,  in  the  arms  of  the  breeze 
Do  the  Bohemian  Rag. 

(Repeat  whole  Company.} 
Sudden  appearance  of  CLOUD  MAIDEN,  in 
robes  of  blue  and  white,  with  swan's-down 
trimming  and  sandalled  feet,  who  stands 
before  the  revelers  and  slowly  raises  her  arms, 
with  flashing  eyes  and  sublime  dignity,  say- 
ing no  word.  The  actors  slowly  and  in  awe 
steal  away.  CLOUD  MAIDEN  approaches 
SPIRIT  or  WOMAN  on  bank,  and  arouses  her. 
She  speaks  no  word.  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN, 
awakening  in  surprise,  allows  herself  to  be 
raised  from  bank  by  CLOUD  MAIDEN.  Com- 
ing to  the  front,  hand  in  hand,  SPIRIT  OF 
WOMAN  sings: 

SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN. 

Alas,  what  grief  is  tugging  at  my  heart! 

'Twas  but  a  dream,  yet  fain  would  I  depart 
To  woman's  sphere,  unsullied  let  me  rise, 

There  men  are  gods,  and  love  is  paradise. 
This  woman-world,  created  in  my  sleep 

Far  in  forgetfulness  I'll  bury  deep; 
Methinks  the  gods  were  wise;  this  grove 

For  man  was  dedicated. 

12 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

Thither  cloud-nymph,  ere  the  moon 
Hides  her  gentle  face  from  sight; 
Back  where  virtue,  love  and  faith 

Form  the  plan  of  woman's  right, 
Lead  me,  Nature's  ever  unchanged  plan — 
Woman's  noblest  altar  in  the  chastened 
heart  of  man. 

Exit  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN,  and  CLOUD  MAIDEN. 
Curtain. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  WOMAN  IN  BOHEMIA 

SCENE  V. 

Back  again  to  original  musical  accompaniment 
of  FOREST  VOICE.  FOREST  VOICE  coming 
to  front  of  stage  for  first  time. 

FOREST  VOICE. 

Bohemia,  sleep!    Thy  armored  knights  attend. 

The  red  deer  slumbers  in  thy  shelter  cool, 
Thy  sons  have  hied  them  to  the  marts  of  trade, 

Like  lagging  urchins,  driven  forth  to  school. 
When  purple  grapes  have  crowned  the  Autumn's 
course, 

To  yield  in  turn  to  holly's  crimson  charm, 
And  Spring  next  drops  the  daffodil  to  gleam 

'Mid  golden  poppy  in  the  new  year's  charm- 
Once  more  a  Summer  browns  the  velvet  hills, 

The  meadow-lark, — your  herald — bids  you  come; 
No  lagging  step — one  purpose — one  accord, 

You  seek  again  Bohemia, — idyll  home; 
Where  Art  and  Nature  fill  the  soul's  demand, 

And  heart  goes  forth  to  heart  at  touch  of  hand; 
No  care  nor  fear  to  mar  each  precious  hour, 

Viva  Bohemia!    In  thy  matchless  dower. 

Curtain. 

FINIS. 


A  PLAYLET  WRITTEN  AND  STAGED  BY 
KATE  B.  PALMER  AT  A  DINNER  GIVEN 
AT  THEIR  HOME  BY  HER  HUSBAND  TO 
SOME  OF  HIS  BOHEMIAN  FRIENDS  ON 
THE  ELEVENTH  DAY  OF  SEPTEMBER 
NINETEEN  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTEEN 


Photomount 

Pamphlet 

Binder 

Gaylord  Bros.,  Inc. 

Makers 

Stockton,  Calif. 
PAT.  JAN.  21,  1908 


840648 


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